One man suspected in two Rockford-area bank robberies

ROCKFORD — FBI investigators suspect one man is responsible for two of the three bank robberies reported in the Rockford region since May 5.

The crime, even though it typically carries a low payoff and a high risk of police capture, continues to be fairly common in northern Illinois.

The U.S. Bank at 1107 E. State St. in Rockford was robbed May 8 by a man who demanded money from a teller, implying that he had a weapon but not displaying one. That same man is suspected in the June 2 Associated Bank robbery at 4400 Center Terrace in Rockford. He is described as black, around 5 feet 9 inches tall and 190 pounds, and wearing a T-shirt and cap.

No one was hurt in these robberies.

Those robberies were preceded by one at the Rockford Bell Credit Union, 4225 Perryville Road in Loves Park. It was robbed at gunpoint May 5 by a man described as black, 5 feet 4 inches tall, and wearing a ski mask, baseball cap and gloves.

FBI Special Agent Joan Hyde said the number of bank robberies is not unusual. The 11-county FBI region that includes Rockford and Winnebago County averages 10 bank robberies a year.

It’s a crime typically reserved for the desperate because few criminals get away with a bank heist, Hyde said.

FBI officials boast a 75 percent solve rate and almost always win a conviction once a bank robbery suspect is captured.

“There is rarely a rhyme or reason to it,” Hyde said. “Some think it’s because of a poor economy, but it’s rarely a pure financial motive. It’s more about desperation, whether it is for gambling or drug addiction. They have to do it to support their habit.”

It is difficult to justify the possible cash the crime can net versus the likelihood of federal prison time.

“It doesn’t make sense, unless that person is someone who has a desperate need for cash,” Hyde said.

Rockford Police Department Lt. Patrick Hoey said officers routinely work with the FBI on bank robbery investigations. Bank robbers are almost always eventually caught, he said.

“In the scheme of robberies, bank robberies don’t rank high,” Hoey said. “There is a lot of risk and there are countermeasures the banks take to protect their assets.”

Farrell fled with $4,000 and managed to reach California, where he was captured. He was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

— Looking like an older customer and wearing a New York Mets baseball cap, Tony Walker walked into the Associated Bank on Main Street on July 12, 2013, carrying a black bag, his hand inside. He placed the bag on the bank counter and handed the teller a note that read: “Give me 1,000 dollars and won’t nobody get hurt.”

The teller then gave Walker $1,300 believing, federal investigators said, that Walker was armed with a gun hidden in the bag.

Walker, 56, of Rockford, was captured by authorities three days later. He pleaded guilty to charges of bank robbery and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

— A woman in a pink hat implied but never showed a weapon and walked out of the Fifth Third Bank, 3936 W. Riverside Blvd., on July 11, 2013, with $4,038 in stolen cash. She robbed the Alpine Bank, 2642 Charles St. of $3,737 in cash three days later.

Janae L. Jordan, 22, of Rockford, has pleaded not guilty in federal court to bank robbery charges in connection with the robberies.